Tub assembly



June 28, 1960 c. w. BURKLAND TUB ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June27, 1955 5 3 nw 5 :2v 41 w 7 @,l 4 mw Z Wu 9 8 ro co y 8 Il] 5 7 2J Z 5|l 4 4 Z 5 o o o O 0 Mw o o o o o 6 5 a. o o o o 0 3 7 (8 o o o o o 8 l#.8 2 o o o o 7n 3 l I l f1 o o n/7 O o o o o o Mw Q o o o o 78 9 o o o o88 2 u o o o o l .0 lHV 2 1 3 H 5 4 u l|`\l|\` 4 4 n l w E rwanlor@names 0W. uvmand 9m, A/

dwerg@ June 28, 1960 c. w. BURKLAND 2,942,445

TUB ASSEMBLY Filed June 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States PatentTos Y ASSEMBLY mea June 27,19ss,ser.N0.s1s,163 Y s claims. (ci. ss-2s)This invention relates to an improved tub assembly foran automaticwashing machine of the vertical axis type. In theThomas R. Smith PatentNo. 2,645,108, entitled Combined Washing Machine and Centrifugal FluidExtractor, and issued July 14, 1953, to thersame assignee as that ofthis application, there is disclosedone tub assembly for a `combinationwashing' machine and uidextractor: In that patent disclosure an outerimperforatetub and a cooperating perforate basket nested within the tubare both axed to a gear housing connected'tola spin tube mounted fornutational movements about its lower end. During periods of agitation,the tub and basket are restrained against rotation while an agitatordrivenby a shaft journalled within the spin tube produces the necessarydegree of agitation of the liuids and fabrics within the stationary tubassembly. During spin periods, the double tub assembly formed from thetub and basket i`s released for rotation and the outer tub, innerbasket, agitator and gear housing are all spun in unison at centrifugingspeeds to extract the uids from the fabrics within the tub assembly.

This prior type assembly produces excellent results for removing excessmoisture from the fabrics during the spin-dry period by extracting theliquids outwardly through the perforate basket wall and against thevertical wall of the imperforate outer tub where the extracted fluidspass up and over the upper edge of the outer tub without passing throughthe fabrics and recontaminating them during this extraction period.

Though this type of double tub construction has produced better resultsthan a single tub provided with fluid escape ports, it has two distinctdisadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that this type tub assemblynecessitates the use of an outer tub basin enclosing the tub assembly"to catch the extracted fluids once they have passed over the upper edgeof the outer imperforate tub in order to pass these uids on to anexternal drain. The second disadvantage of this prior ,typel double tubassembly is that not all of theheavier particles of sand andVsedimentrseparated from the soiled fabrics andsettling between thebasket and tub are always extracted from the tub during the Huidextraction process. Unlike the smaller particles of sediment flushedfrom the assembly, some'of the heavier particles remained within'thevtub assembly and vwere not flushed over the Supper edge of theouter tubbecause of the action of the centrifugal forcespressingthem outwardly`against -thevertical wall ofthe outer tub. Y

e This ,inventiontherefore has as one of its primeobjects'v'theelimination of ,the necessity for useof an .outer tub basin surroundingthe tubA assembly.

The second. object` of this `invention is to produce a satisfactory.tub/assembly capablevof,efficiently extracting from fabrics during thespin-dryzperiod while per-l mittinglsand andY heavy sediment settling tothey bottom on the tubj-assembly during the Vagitationperiods; tobethoroughly removed from` the tub, assembly before the Patented June 28,1960 ICC end of each spin cycle so as to prevent recontamination offabrics in subsequent operating cycles. il'

Another object is to produce a tub assembly in which the power housingcontaining the motion converting mechanism which drives the agitatorwithin the assembly may be affixed directly to the spin tube to utilizethe mass of the power housing and its mechanism to stabilize the lateraldeviations of the spinning assembly during the centrifuging operation.

An additional object of this invention is to produce-a tub assembly bysupporting anV imperforate tub' entirely on a resiliently centeredfriction damper member to permit the tub to nutate about its verticalaxis Without rotating with a perforate basket which is nested within thetub and connected to a rotatable spin shaft joumalled in the dampermember. f

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will 'be moreapparent when reference is madeto the following specification anddrawings' in which:

Figure V1 is an elevation, partially in section, of awash ingmachineembodying my invention; v

Figure 2'is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view; partially brokenaway, showing the method of supporting the perforate basket on thevertical spin tube, and i Figure 3 is a viewl taken on line 3--3 ofFigure 1 showi ing the resiliently centered umbrella' damper memberjournalling the spin -tube and those lower connections of the bracemembers supporting the non-rotatable imperforate tub on the umbrellamember.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown Vavbase member 10- mountedon adjustable feet-11 and provided with a supporting dome 12 rising outof a centrally lo# cated depression 13 in the base frame 10. Dome 12serves as a mounting for a drive assembly 14 such as that disclosed inthe John D. Goodlaxson application -Serial No. 505,231, filed May 2,1955, and assigned to the same assignee as that of Ithe instantapplication.

Base frame member 10 also supports the upended reversible motor andwater pum-p 16 which, like drive assembly 114, is driven by motor 15through -belt V17'on the underside of base frame 10. Numeral 19designates the groove of pulley 18 which serves as the input mein-y berfor drive assembly 14.

Cabinet 21, attached to and enclosing base 10 together ears 29 forthreecentering springs 31 which may be attached directly to base frame '10 orfastened to brackets 32 connectedV tothe base frame 10. This arrangementwhich centers support member 28 on dome 12 andrestrains it Vfromrotation forms part of the subject matter disclosed and claimed in theco-pending application Serial No. S05-,251,-filed MayV 2, 1955, now-Patent'fNo. 2,854,297,11aming William F. Scottand ArthurW. Von'- derhaaras co-invento'rs and assigned to the same assignee as that ofthis-application.

Threaded into the umbrella support member 28 is member 34-ofsubstantially frusto-conical configuration which serves as a housingfor drive assembly k114 of the previously identi'ed Goodlaxsonapplication` SerialfNo. 505,23l. HousingmemberV 34 cooperates Withtheum# brella support member 28 by gripping the outer race of a thrustbearing-35 which isvprovided with a tapered inner race., Mating withand'seated inlthistaperedin ner race of bearing 35 is the spin tube orshaft 37 which journals a power shaft 38 also extending into the driveassembly 14. With this construction all weight placed on'the spin tube37, housing 34 and on umbrella member 28 may be used to anadvantage toprovide ample frictional force`between umbrella member 28 and thefriction pads 26 for dampening nutational movements of the shafts 37 and38 relative to dome 12 while permitting rotational movement' of spintube 37 in thrust bearing 35.- --While the details ofthe Goodlaxsondrive assembly forming the basis for the previously identifiedapplication Serial No. 505,231 are not essential to the construction ofthe instant invention, its operation can be briefly explained forenvironmental purposes. VUpon energization of motor in a direction torotate pulley 18 in a counter-clockwise direction' as viewed from thebottom ofFigure l, power shaft 38 is rotated in this `same directionwhile spin shaft 37 is held against rotation by appropriate brakingmechanism within housing 34. Upon the reversal of motor 15, spin shaft37 is released for rotation to allow both of shafts 37 and 38 to be spunin unison in a clockwise direction.

With the drive and support construction set forth above, it can be seenthat shafts 37 and 38 may be selectively rotated as determined by thedirection ofV rotation imparted to pulley 18 while permitting theirnutation about a vertical axis at all times. In the modification setforth in the accompanying drawings, shafts 37 and 38 nutate on a pointdetermined by the intersection of the vertical axis of rotationwith thehorizontal plane bisecting groove 19 of pulley 18.

Now with reference to the tub assembly forming the invention of theinstant application, it can be seen from Figures 1 and 3 that umbrellasupport member 28 is provided with three upstanding lugs 41 ofchannel-like cross section spaced equally from each other andalternately around member 28 with respect to the ears 29. Fastenedwithin the grooved lugs 41 by connectors 42 are the three tub bracemembers 43 which are, in this embodiment, also of channel-like crosssection. Brace members 43 extend outwardly and upwardly from umbrellasupport member 28 to join the non-rotatable tub V44 through tubconnectors 45. The tub 44 is provided with a bottom w'all 47 in which isformed a C-shaped gutter 48 having its lowermost portion converging intothe drain outlet 49 which in turn communicates with water pump 16through flexible drain hose 51. The imperforate cylinder sidewall 52 oftub 44 includes a slightly enlarged rirn 53 on its uppermost portionbefore terminating in an outwardly directed flange. Resting onv theanged upper edge of sidewall 52 is spherical segmental member 55 havinga flanged periphery and a rolled inner edge. Member 55 forms awater-tight seal with wall 52 asthese members are gripped by the rubbersealing band 56 encompassing the peripheral flanges of wall 52 and thesegmental member 55. Resting on the upper surface of member 55 andhaving its inner cylindrical portion fastened to the outer periphery ofthe depending flange 22 is the combined water and vapor seal 58 whichprevents the escape of either steam or water from tub 44 during normaluse of the machine utilizing this invention. This specific flexiblevapor seal is described and claimed in the co-pending application ofThomas R. Smith and William F. Scott, Serial No. 518,286, now Patent No.2,777,314, led of even date herewith and assigned to the same assigneeas that of this application.

Since the described vapor seal forms no part of this invention, itnaturally follows that other types of sealing arrangements may beprovided for the upper portion of this tub assembly.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 it can be seen that spin tube 37extends upwardly from drive assembly 14 to connect with the lowerextension of lower power housing cover 61. The upper power housing cover62 to which is attached a counter-weight 63 cooperates with cover 61 toform a power housing enclosing a conventional type motion convertingmechanism which is driven by power shaft 38 in order to convert therotary movement of power shaft 38 into the oscillatory output movementnow common in the washing machine art.

Now with reference to Figure 2 showing the enlarged sectional details ofa tub assembly utilizing my invention, it will be noted that the upperpower housing cover 62 carries an integral upper extension forming thestub shaft 65 which is coaxial with the rotational axis of shafts 37 and38. The stub shaft 65 pierces the center of bottom wall 47 through aself-aligning radial bearing 66 which is formed from a split cylindricalsleeve provided with a Babbitt liner and fitted into the flanged openingin the bottom wall 47 by a squeeze lit with the tubular rubber member 67bonded to the periphery of the cylindrical sleeve 66. If desired,wicking material may be provided at the opposite ends of bearing 66 foroil storage.

Since there is relative movement between the stationary non-rotating tub44 and the stub shaft 65, tub 44 is provided with a bellows type seal 71pressed against the bottom wall 47 by means of coil spring 72 withinthat seal. The uppermost portion of bellows type seal 71 is fitted witha carbon nose sealing ring 75 which is pressed upwardly by coil spring72 against the lower side-of the tubular basket mounting stem 76 whichis threaded onto the upper end of stub shaft 65.

Basket mounting stem 76 includes a frusto-conical shoulder 77 whichsupports the basket 78 having a bottom wall 79 and a side wall 81.Bottom wall 79 is perforate at its lowest elevation for passage ofliquid and sediment into tub 44 and has `a slope conformingsubstantially to bottom wall 47 of that outer tub. Side wall 81 includesa main perforate cylindrical portion and an upper imperforate portionwhich slopes inwardly towards its axis of rotation to form a seat forbalancing ring 82 within rim 53 before terminating in rolled edge 84which defines the access opening into the tub assembly. f

While the weight of basket 78 is mainly supported on the mounting flange77, basket 78 is prevented from tipping, tilting or turning on thatflange by means of the large nut which is threaded on the upper part ofbasket mounting stem 76 in order to wedge the conical portion of wall 79against flange 77. In addition to wedging basket 78 on flange 77, nut 80forces the centrally located horizontal flange 83 against a smallsealing gasket immediately below the latter flange to provide anairtight seal between basket wall 79 and basket mounting stern 76.

The necessary degree of agitation of the washing fluid within basket 78is achieved by use of the conventional agitator 86 which is fitted onsplines 87 of the rock shaft 88. Shaft 88, in this embodiment, is drivenby the conventional motion mechanism enclosed between the power housingcovers 61 and 62.

Agitator shaft 88 is journalled in the bearing 89 which in turn isseated in the upper end of stub shaft 65. Shaft 88 is prevented from anydownward movement relative to bearing 89 by means of the collar 91pressed onto shaft 88. O-ring seal 92 encompassing the junction of parts89 and 91 provides one shaft seal used in this construction.

A second shaft seal takes the form of a hollow member of rubber or otherresilient material having its lower end urged against collar 91 by thecoil spring 95 within seal 94. The upper end of seal 94 is pressedagainst a washer 97 maintained in its position at the mouth of thebasket mounting member 76 by means of an expansible C-ring 98 engaging amating annular groove within the mouth of member 76. Drain port 99communicating with the' space around seal 94 allows the escape of fluidswhich possibly may seep through that sealing member.

A machine incorporating this tub assembly may be easily serviced withoutthe interference of any bulky framework which has been characteristic ofsome of the domestic washing machines placed on the market. When thistub assembly is placed in a cabinet having a removableytotalagitator..86,'hasleftfia d1un may aube quickly withdrawnfromthetopof the cabinet by merely loosening thexvapor seal, drain hose,basketand tub connections. In'operatiomover typical` agitation and spinperiods, the-fabrics toV be cleaned are insertedFintop Vbasket 78through the access openings defined by depending ange ZZan'dtherollededgel84`. A suitable detergent is added toithegwat'erplaced withinthe tub 44:'by a water supply systemznotzforming .as part of this'invention. 'Though a valve'lmay beJusedinuthe drain Vhose 51 to preventthe washing'tfluids from: draining from the tub 44, the water mayberetained. withintub 44"inf this illustrated embodimentv by'm'ewrelymaintainingthe' external drain hose (not shown attached toftheoutletdof. pump 16 ata higher 'elevation than the elevation of the watercontained in ."*Dringlthe tub. `iillingperiod when the liquid risingWithin tleltub hasV coveredl the -perforatons in the sloping basketbottom wall 79, air will be trapped between thebottomwalls 79 "andf4`7due to the sealing action of thebellows type 'seal 71'a`nd-the air-tightconnection between basket`78 and thebasket mounting stem 76. Thisnormally prevents fluids from contacting the bellows seal 7 1fforfthelarg'e nut 80 lioldingtbas'ket 78 in place. Likewise'fwhen-the liquidlevel rises' above the loweredge of agitator 86', air isj normallytrapped beneath this agitator to. eve'ntliquids fromcontac'ting eitherseal 94 or`nut 80. ""Wlien the tub-'4,4 hasbeenV lled with a sufcientquan- `titly of washing fluid, the reversible motor 15 is energizedthrough a control"'sy`s'tem (not shown) to rotatethe drive pulleyA1f8'1in a counter-clockwise direction as viewedfrom thebottotn ofyFigure "1.' Rotation of pulley 18 in this t directon'imparts the samedirection of rotation to power motion converting unit enclosed by covers61 and v62 to scill-a'terock sh-aft' 88 and its aixed agitator`86.

The oscillating action of agitator 86 forces the cleaningfluidthrughd'the fabricswithinbasket 78 and separates impurities held bythem. The larger and heavier parti'clesfsuch as sand and sediment fallto ythe bottom of basket 78where'dthey pass through the holes in thebottom basIEt'waIl 79 in vthel lovvermost portion of thatwall.This-'agitation offfluils4 within tub 44 also causes these heavierparticles to work their way'down the slopingA tub wallf47 andfinto theV'gutter 4Saround the periphery of thatlb'ottom: wall. @nce in thisgutter, these particles continue to steek a lower."elevation in theagitated uid and eventually find their way into the deepest part ofgutter 48 vihrehey pass intothedrain outlet 49 and then into the drainhose 51.

Upon completion-.crime agitation cycle and the initiation ofthe'-spinfor liquidfextraction period, motor 15 is reversed causing theWater pump 16 andthe drive assemblypulley 18 to .reverse theirdirections also.y When dfivenxin direction, Water pump'l is permitted topump the Washing fluid together ywith-the accumulation of. said'. andsedimentfromatub. 44through its drain connections. VThis reversal.ofmotor 15 `also causes the braking mechanism Withindrive assembly 14 tolrelease tlie' spinitubei37. for Arotation' in :unison with power shaftRotation of, the. spin tube 37; imparts a similar rotary movement to thepower housing covers 61 and 62.

t and to the perforate basket 78` connected to these mem- 6 the 'driveassemblyY 14, are` stopped and immediately reversedl and driventogether, 'as possible in this illustratadaembodiment,` some vwaterAwill be present in the, tubCasse'mblw during the initial liquidextraction oper,- ation. Depehdingupon the torque input to the spin tube37;, certain drag forces will beexerted by the Water Within the tuti 44and the rotating basket v78 and may be utilized to prevent the basket78` from immediately c oming up to speed until enough of the washingfluid has been emptied, fromv thetube 44 s olas to insure that-,nowater' will: attempt topass out of the upper end oftub 4.4;"during thespin process. In lway all water extracted: from; thegatabrics withinbasket 78 passes through the sides and bottom 'of lbasket`78 and downinto the drain hose 5.1"to 'flush all impurities down drain 49,

Thus; whileitposses'ses the extraction eciency of the centrifugalextractor. of Ythe aforesaid Smith Patent No.- 2,645,l08, thisimprovedtub assembly gains the advantage otrremoving through the bottomof the tub assembly those-heavier, particles which? were difficult topass over the upper sides, ofV that prior type of tube assembly.

At the end of the spin-dry l,operation motor 15j-isstoppedzcausinglthedrive assembly 14E-,to 'quickly terminateftherotation of "both shaftsV 37 andr 38. Though theseperiods maybegrepelatedmd rinse periods added, this terminates/the.spinperiodofmyillustrated operational. cycle.

While I have illustrated:,the` operationof my tub /assemblylinicooperation with a reversible drive assembly, other'types:otkl'rivei-assemblies may be used. Furthermore,: while this tubassemblyincorporates'theuse of a conventionaltftype agitatorv which impartsoscillatory mofvementto elothesand fluidswithin the tub assemblyadius'es the power housing as -a stabilizer, it. should be apparent thatotherV typesof agitators may be used in conjunction 'the 'tube assemblydisclosed herein. Thisfwould 'include' they elimination oftheconventional oscillatingzztype ia'gitator'and the power housingnecessary l to produce `such` an oscillatory movement and theV subistitution therefore of. a single tube connected integrally withxtheibasket mounting stem and provided with bear@ ings Vfor jounallingasingle power shaft for actuating ag'itators of the 'rotary orreciprocating type.

The advantages. of this construction setforth herein are several. .Theuse of this non-rotating imperforate tlrbeliminatesl the necessity of`an outer tub basin and retainsftheuadvantages of the elicient iiuidextractor set forth in the aforesaid Smith Patent No. 2,645,108. Inaddition tosupporting' the non-rotating imperforate tub on the 'umbrelladamper member to utilize the weight of the tub and lits contents asanaidin dampening the nutational movements of the entire tube assembly, Ihave provided atlbtlassernfblyV which can be supported independently of-the lshaft structurer actuating either the basket or theagitator'withinthe basket. Furthermore, the connections'fbtweenthenon-rotating outer tub and the umbrella .dam-permember'prevent anytendency of that tub from` rotating with the` basket during thespinperiod whilexsinnlltaneously permitting the entire tub assemblytofnutate' fonthe base fra-me Vmember under unbalanced conditionsVallifwithou't placing any great stresses on the normally flexededra'inhose member connected to that tub.

Though only-onegembodiment of my invention has been shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is understood that modications of thisembodiment may be made without departing from the scope of my inventionas set forth in the lfollowing claims.

I claim:

l. In a washing machine, a base frame, a support member mounted fornutational movements on said base frame, a thrust bearing in saidsupport member, means restraining said `support member from rotationalmovements relative to said base frame, brace members fastened to andextending upwardly .from said support mem- 7 ber, an imperforate tubfastened toand supported by said brace members, bearing means in saidtub, rotatable shaft means journalled in said bearing means andsupported in said' thrustbearing, an agitator shaft Within saidrotatable-shaft means, anda perforatebasket nested within `said -tub`and connected to said rotatable shaft means for rotational movementsrelative to said tub. v

2. I n a washing machine, a base frame, a support member mountedforfnutational movements onsaidlbase frame, a thrust bearing in saidsupport member, means restraining said support member from rotationalmovements Arelative to said base frame, brace members fastened to andextending upwardly from said support member, an imperforate tub fastenedto and supported by said brace members, bearing means in said tub,rotatable 'shaft meansjournalled'in said bearing means and in saidthrust bearing to support the thrust thereon independently of said tub,and a perforate basket nested in said tub and connected to saidrotatable shaft means .for rotational movements relative to said tub,said rotatable shaft means journaling therein an agitator shaftextending into said perforate basket. I

3. In a washing machine provided with a base frame including mountingstructure, a tubassembly comprising, asupport member supported by saidmounting structure and centered thereon'v for nutational movements CITrelative to said base frame, brace members vfastened to v and extendingupwardly from'said support member, an imperforate tub fastened to andsupported by said brace members, a perforate basket nested within saidtub, a radial bearing in said tub, a rotatable drive tube connectedtosaid basket and journalled. in said bearing for rotating said basket andnutating with said tub, an agitator within said basket, and an agitatorshaft journalled in said tube and connected to said agitator.

4. In a washing machine provided with a base frame including mountingstructure, a tub assembly comprising, a support member mating With saidmounting structure and centered thereon for nutfational movementsrelative to said base frame, brace members [fastened to and extendingupwardly from said support member, an imperforate tub fastened to andsupported by said brace members, a perforate basket nested within saidtub, a radial bearing in said tub, a thrust bearing in said supportmember, shaft means supported in said thrust bearing for rotationrelative to said support member, said shaft means including Aa stubshaft journalled in said radial bearing and connected to said basket.

5. In a washing machine provided with a base frame including mountingstructure, a tub assembly comprising, a support member mating with saidmounting structure and centered thereon for nutational movementsrelative to said base frame, brace members fastened to and extendingupwardly from said support member, an imperforate tub fastened ito andsupported by said brace members, a perforate basket nested Within saidtub, a radial bearing in said tub, a thru-st bearing in said supportmember, shaft means supported inl said thrust bearing for rotationrelative to said support member, said shaft means including a stub shaftjournalled in said radial bearing Iand connected to said (basket, anagitator within said basket, and an agitator shaft connected to saidagitator and journalled in said stub shaft.

6. In a washing machine of the vertical axis type,

an upstanding non-rotatable tub adapted to receive uid, a base frame,friction damping means on said base frame, a support member engaging andsupported on said damping meansv for movement relative thereto, aplurality of brace members fastened to and connected between said'support member and said tubV to support the .Weight of said tub and itsfluid contents on said sup: port member to produce a frictional forceresisting rela= tive movement between said support member and saidfriction dampingv` means, said bracemembers forming a unitary structurewith said tub 'and said support member, a Vrevoluble perforate basketnested .Within Vsaid tub, .a self-aligning bearing mounted inv said tub,shaft means connected to said basket and journalled in saidself-aligning bearing, a thrust bearing in said support membersupporting `said shaft means and the weight of said basket independentlyof said tub, and 'means for resiliently centering said unitary structureon said damping means for nutational movement relative to said baseframe.

7. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving uid, a support member,brace members fastened to and connected between said tub and saidsupport member to form a unitary structure, a base frame, a thrustbearing in said support member, a self-aligning bearing insaid tub, aclothes basket nested Within said tub, revoluble shaft' means connectedto said basket and journalled in both of said bearings for rotating saidbasket and supporting its weight 4in said thrust bearing, frictiondamping means on said base frame, said friction damping means beinglocated between said support member and said base frame and contactingsaid support member toresist movement of said unitary structure and saidshaft means relative to said base frame, said support member supportingthe weight of said tub and its Huid contents on said friction dampingmeans, and means connected between said base Vframe and said unitarystructure Vfor resiliently positioning said tub relative to said baseframe.

8. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving washing fluid, -a clothesbasket within said tub, a base frame, friction damping means on saidbase frame, a support member engaging and supported on said frictiondamping means for movement relative to said base frame, brace membersconnected between said tub and said support member to support the weightof said tub and its uid contents on said support member, la radialbearing in said tub, a thrust bearing in said support member, revolubleshaft means connected to basket and received in vboth of said bearingsfor rotating 'said basket and for supporting its Weight in said thrustbearing independently of said brace members, and means for resilientlymaintaining said support member in a. centered relationship on saidfriction damping means.

References Cited in the le of this patent

